Joined Today (Orlando has passed)

Great to hear that Orlando is doing well! Good news.

Molly gets what is absolutely needed in our area, and the longest possible, so as not to have to repeat too often. We get kennel cough (yearly), rabies/parvo, for example, usually every 3 years as Marianne mentioned.

Thank you both so much. I will look into the three year parvo/distemper shot, but will probably continue to vaccinate at this time since he appears to be very stable.....fortunately...and we do go out every day for walks. I live in an area with good animal care and control, so we are not encountering animals on the streets; however, with the CA drought, coyotes are prevalent in the neighborhood and I am going to ask my vet if they can be a vector for dog related diseases.

I live in an area with racoons and coyotes, so I do get vaccines to protect molly from anything she might catch.

This is the latest on Orlando. We did go to the new hospital so that he could be with the same vet, and they have been very nice to us. When we did the last ACTH stim test, I waited in the room with him between the blood draws. However, right before that he went into what I would call a crash...no appetite, lethargic, no desire for activity. I called the vet and she said to stop the vetoryl and bring him in as soon as possible. We were able to make it until Monday as opposed to going to the ER and he remained stable, but in the same condition. She did a full blood panel including the T4 and the stim test, even though he had not been on vetoryl for two days. His pre test reading was 6.8 and his post test reading was 5.1. His T4 was 4.2 and his ALP had gone back up almost 200 points....almost 600. I have kept him off the vetoryl now for 2 weeks...his appetite came back and I initially thought that the cortisol was rising again, but now he is less inclined to eat, although eating enough to get by, not necessarily urinating excessively, or drinking excessively, and it has been hot here. I can tell if he is urinating because he stays inside when I am gone and he uses the blue backed pads. The vet wants to perform an ultrasound as she thinks that something is going on with his liver and I can see her point, just need to get the money together for it. He looks very good, great coat, no skin issues, not pot bellied, but something is going on and I do believe that he still need to be treated on some level for the Cushings. Can you think of any other tests that I should be considering when we go back to the vet next week?

Hi and welcome back! I went back and reread your thread and saw that Orlando has had a few ACTH stimulating tests, however the results of those tests were not posted. Could you please post those stim test results for us and is he still on the 50 mg dose of Vetoryl? Having these answers will give us a more complete picture of Orlando's health history....thanks

Lori!

I think an ultrasound is a good idea, it can give you a lot of bang for the buck.

The previous stim test was 7.9 and I will get the readings of the others from the vet when I see her next week. He was on 50 mgs until the latest dip and has not been taking any vetoryl since, nor has a recommended new dose been suggested. I have had ultrasounds before on my dogs and know that they can give a lot of information, so I will go ahead with this hopefully within the next couple of weeks.

I have not been here for awhile due to various circumstances, but Orlando is doing well. His Cushings has responded to the Vetoryl and he is suffering no side effect related to Cushings, except to be very sensitive to the SoCal heat. However, something else has arisen. About two weeks ago I noticed him licking his paw, suspected a granuloma, and took him to the vet within the week. He does not like his paws touched, but on closer examination by her it appeared to be a cancerous growth. Needle aspiration and biopsy have been done and it is melanoma. It was not possible to get clean margins and it appears that a stalk is extending further into the leg. I will get conclusive results of the biopsy in about 5 days. At this point, the idea of toe amputation and radiation are on the table. Not only do I have concerns about those, but also about the use of anesthesia which is what caused me to lose my first Cushings dog about 15 years ago. A local was used for the biopsy because my vet was sensitive to my fear of anesthesia which might not be completely necessary. Do you have any advice going forward about Cushings dogs and oncology surgeries and treatments? The vet was not happy about the biopsy and what she is seemingly worried will be the result and held my hand while she was talking to me, so maybe this is worse than I even know at this point.

Jeez, I'm so sorry...poor Orlando.

You have done an extraordinary job of caring for Orlando over the years, in spite of the Cushing's and arthritis. Is your vet recommending that you see an oncologist? Perhaps I read too fast but I'm unclear about next steps. Obviously, surgery to remove what they believe to be a melanoma is very serious in light of Orlando's age. Please let us know how you both are doing and whether his vets are recommending treatment. Best to you.

Carole